The Songkran Festival in Silom is a vibrant celebration of Thailand’s traditional new year, attracting massive crowds eager to partake in exhilarating water battles. Set amidst the bustling streets, revelers armed with water guns and colorful powders come together to wash away the past year’s misfortunes. The 5km party zone transforms into a lively playground, with the BTS skywalk offering a panoramic view of the festivities for those seeking a brief respite. Street stalls serve refreshing drinks, enhancing the exhilarating atmosphere as participants dance and celebrate. However, it’s vital to protect valuables from the splashes. Join the unforgettable fun of Songkran and immerse yourself in this one-of-a-kind cultural experience.
The Songkran Festival, Thailand’s most significant public holiday, marks the celebration of the traditional new year, and Silom is one of the most exciting places to experience it. The streets brim with energy as thousands gather to engage in spirited water fights, armed with water pistols and colorful powders, all aimed at cleansing their souls of past misdeeds. Stretching over 5 kilometers, the Silom party zone offers a thrilling atmosphere where it’s nearly impossible to remain dry. If you’re looking for a momentary escape from the excitement, the BTS skywalk provides a vantage point to observe the revelry while staying relatively dry. When you’re ready to dive back into the festivities, the bustling streets are alive with music and laughter, and road-side stalls tempt you with cold beers to keep the celebration going. Just a quick note: before joining the fun, ensure that you leave behind any valuables that shouldn’t get wet. The Songkran Festival in Silom is an unforgettable blend of culture, camaraderie, and chaos that promises an exhilarating start to the Thai new year.
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Songkran Festival Silom is perched on a picturesque hilltop overlooking Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, Thailand
I have heard about it a lot. And now I have experienced it!The water-throwing festival was really good fun. No boundaries of ages, religions, nationalities, colour … just pure, simple harmless (but cool) fun with complete strangers on a hot day! Just refreshing ….The security was good, the assembly was gentle – going round and round along the Silom Road ….
The whole road is transformed to the Water Festival area, you can find a lot of people gathering here during Songkran Festival, trully a wonderful experience
After hearing of Songkran for many years, this was my first time to the festival. AMAZING FUN! Just imagine a massive three-day water fight and you get the idea. Everyone gets involved and spirits are very high. First a little about Songkran: It is the Thai new Year and the water symbolized the washing away of misfortune from the previous year. ITs origins were much more solomn with families getting together the the younger members pouring scented water over the hands of the elders. But in today’s let’s party world, the festival has taken om a life of its own. Silom is ground zero for Songkran as they close off the street and tens of thousands of people make the circuit armed with all sorts of water dispensing devices. For those not wanting to take a shower with ten thousand others, you can observe form above on the BTS platform, but what’s the fun in that? some of the more devious types will fill their weapons with ice water, giving you that extra shock when you are tagged! But it is all in good fun and all I saw for three days was singing and dancing and yes, drinking, and no small amount of water. While Silom Road is ground zero for Songkran, it is by far not the only festive area. Right across the road is Lupphini Park which has a large number of booths selling various foods and wares. There are a couple of stages where traditional Thai performances take place along with some more contemporary Thai hip-hop and T-pop performances. The only question is why I waited so long to come during Songkran?
Although we had a great time the first day of the festival, it’s exhausting to do it for 3 days. We really didn’t get to experience Bangkok as everything was closed bc of the festival and we were wet ALL the time. The dirty water, combined with the extreme heat made for a bad combination. Not only that, but you couldn’t sit down for a meal without someone spraying you in the face, or in your food…it was a disaster! It’s definitely something to experience, but unless you LOVE being soaking wet and smelly all day for 3 days I would suggest being there for either the first or last day only. People are also very aggressive so you have to have your guard up all the time. Good luck 💦
We joined the festivities at Silom BTS for about 1-2 hours. It was fun watching the water fights. We were traveling with our elderly parents so we couldn’t join in with the festivities but for those who have stamina it is fun to participate in. Wear quick drying clothes because you will be sprayed at even if you don’t participate. Over all a fun experience.
This nonsense goes on for 3 days, for the Thai people I get it, the stupid european tourists with the insane glint in their eyes, I don’t understand it. Will never visit at this time again.
Great way to totally destroy Bangkok holiday. I was so up for this… But please understand i thought this was one day of water not the insanity i saw that meant the only way we went out was under cover. Yes funny for sure for short time. You don’t get wet you get drowned ring out your underwear.. And it’s relentless for three days! Even if i was in my twenties i would hate this. Also everything closed.. All those little bars you want to experience with great Thai food forget it.. The markets are closed so no fresh food. So sorry i came here at this time thought it was one day of fun for us it was three days of tyranny… Never again 😫
This festival is one more reason for me to searching carefully before traveling. My girlfriend was so excited when we arrived at the time of Songkran festival. We thought it could be a traditional splashed water festival with street parade. However it WAS a terrible water shooting and mostly it came from young foreigners. We met some local elders with traditional splashed water and was very happy with it. But the water guns from ignorant were super annoying and destroyed our mood within 3 days of holiday. When you go outside and look for some good food but all you have is water shooting from everywhere even you denied it. Some guys even use water gun to flirt with girls by shooting to their boobs and butts and that is gross. And imagine you go out clean and dry and after 5 min you look like a wet rat. And you go to the supermarket to dry yourself and wet again everytime you go out is definitely NOT fun at all in the middle of day with 38 degrees outdoor. Ans even in that weather people still can jump and shout under water shooting from fire hose was ridiculous (I wonder if they got sick yet?)Never come back Thai during this water shooting festival lol, not Songkran but water shooting.
We were prepared! The guest at the Marriott had told us to buy water pistols which cost us a few dollars, protective glasses and a plastic cap. We were ready for the fun. There were four of us in our 50s and we love some fun & in particular joining in a celebration that the whole country celebrates!The definition of this festival is to celebrate new year and purify and cleanse the soul. We loved it and had the best of time!There were young kids with water pistols, there were old and the youth, all very well behaved! Having a great time!There are blow up pools that you can fill up your pistol in and the people are very happy to wet you with respect. We had an absolute ball! Ive never laughed so hard but again, you have to be a kid at heart to allow yourself to enjoy this event. Just magnificent!I can see that if I had been travelling on my own this may not have been as much fun. We were travelling with friends and the four of us enjoyed it immensely. Yes, you will not come out of this dry! I put together a video on youtube to show the full experience. Maybe not for all, but most would love this!
If you are looking to experience water everywhere, loud music and loads of festivities for free then head over to Silom and walk down the street. You can veer off into side streets to find quieter spaces and loads of restaurants and bars celebrating. Won’t go again, but worth seeing it.